Display-platform.



A. WIESBAUER &' J. GOCUS.

DISPLAY PLATFORM.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1911.

1,052,543. Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH c0.,wASmNGTuN. D. c.

ANDREW WIESBAUER AND JOHN GOCUS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

DISPLAY-PLATFORM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

Application filed August 18,1911. Serial No. 644,800.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ANDREW VVIESBAUER and JOHN Goons, citizens of the United States, residing at Buflalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Display-Platforms, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to the stepped display cases, platforms or racks commonly placed in the windows of stores for exhibiting jewelry and Various other goods. In order to obtain a large and attractive window display, many merchants prefer to extend such platforms practically throughout the width of the display window and to or nearly to the ceiling. As ordinarily constructed, however, such platforms render it inconvenient and difficult to obtain access to the trays or goods.

It is the object of our invention to provide an attractive display rack or platform of this kind which permits ready access to the goods on any of the various shelves from the rear side of the platform without the necessity of reaching around its sides or over its top.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved platform showing two sections thereof, one filled with trays of various kinds and the other empty to show its construction. Fig. 2 is a transverse central section of one of the platform sections.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

The two platform sections illustratedin the drawings are identical and a description of one will therefore apply to both. It will also be understood that one or a plurality of sections may be employed according to the width of the particular display window for which the platform is designed.

Each platform section comprises a pair of end walls A which are preferably tied together at their lower rear corners by an upright strip B and a horizontal bottom strip 0 which are suitably secured thereto. At their top said walls may also be tied together by a horizontal board or shelf D. The walls are stepped at their front edges and some of their steps or ledges 6 support horizontal strips or shelves E which extend rearwardly from the front edges of said walls but terminate short of their rear walls. The several shelves E are arranged in stepped order, so that each overhangs the rear edge of the shelf next below. If desired, the

platforms may be provided at suitable heights or intervals with additional comparatively narrow shelves or ledges F and with stationary vertical strips or risers G extending from the rear edges of such narrow shelves to the front portions of the wide shelves E next above. At its base the platform may be provided with a shelf H extending forwardly from the lower end of the lowermost riser G. The opening between those shelves not connected by risers G are normally closed by rearwardly swinging doors or panels I of the proper dimensions for this purpose. hinged at its lower edge to the upper side of one of the shelves E, as shown at 2', and provided at its upper edge with an ordinary sliding bolt or spring catch j which interlooks with a keeper 7a in the underside of the shelf next above, as shown in connection with the three uppermost panels I in Fig. 2, the lowermost panel being swung down to its open position. Any other suitable means may, however, be employed for re taining the panels in their closed position.

Each panel is also provided at its lower edge with a forwardly extending ledge or support Z for a jewelry tray M or any other goods to be displayed. As shown, the panels are preferably inclined slightly in their closed position, so that the trays will remain in place thereon without the use'of fastening or retaining devices. The panels are hinged to the shelves E between the front and rear edges of the latter, or, in other words, the shelves extend rearwardly a suitable distance beyond the hinges, to form ledges or supports for the panels when in their open position, as shown in connection with the lowermost panel in Fig. 2.

The rear side of the platform is preferably open from its top to the horizontal tie strip B, to permit ready access to the interior of the platform, but this rear opening may ordinarily be closed by a curtain N suspended from the top of the platform.

Normally, all of the hinged panels I are closed and the jewelry trays or other goods are supported on their ledges Z. Similar trays or goods may be placed in an inclined Each of these panels is.

position upon the narrow shelves F and the bottom shelf H. When it is desired to remove any trays or goods from the platform it is only necessary to move the curtain N aside and release and lower the hinged panel carrying the desired tray, as shown in the lower portion of Fig. 2. In this position of the panel, convenient access is had to the tray or goods thereon, while the trays or goods upon one of the narrow shelves F or the bottom shelf H can be as readily reached by passing the hand through the opening or space above the opened panel.

By making the panel supports or shelves E comparatively narrow and arranging them in stepped order, as shown in Fig. 2, they do not obstruct access to the panels next below or require the salesman to stoop to reach them, as would be the case if the shelves were extended to the back of the platform.

Our improvement is especially advantageous in cases where the display platform is extended to a considerable height in a show window and practically from end to end thereof, although it is equally desirable for platforms of smaller dimensions. While affording a large display capacity, the platform is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construct-ion.

As shown in the drawings, the platform may be provided with a number of steps or shelves F with which no hinged panels are directly associated, but this is non-essential.

Obviously, such hinged panels might be arranged between every pair of shelves. Moreover, the relative arrangement of the fixed risers G and the hinged panels may be changed without departing from the invention, the particular arrangement of such rigid and hinged members being optional and variable to suit the fancy of the manufacturer or customer, or the nature of the goods to be dlsplayed.

ity of shelves secured to said side walls 00- incident with the steps thereof, said shelves extending rearwardly from the front edges of the side walls and terminating short of their rear edges, and panels arranged to close the openings between adjacent shelves, each of said panels being hinged to the upper side of one of the shelves to swin rearwardly and downwardly when opene 3. A display platform having spacedapart side walls, a plurality of shelves secured to said walls at the front of the platform, one above another providing openings between shelves, and rearwardly swinging panels arranged to close such openings.

4. A display platform comprising side walls having stepped front edges, shelves secured to said side walls coincident with steps thereof, the shelves extending rearwardly from the front of the platform but,

terminating short of the rear edges of the side walls, and panels arranged to close the openings between adjacent shelves, each of said panels being hinged above one of the shelves to swing downwardly when opened.

Witness our hands this 1st day of August,

ANDREW WVIESBAUER. JOHN GOCUS.

Witnesses:

E. M. GRAHAM,

ANNA HEIGIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

